Prost: Senna was favourite for record

Prost's total of 51 wins was passed by Schumacher after the German won Sunday's Belgian Grand Prix. And while the Prost Grand Prix team boss is happy for the German to assume his mantle, he feels sure that former team mate and adversary Senna would have been the first to overtake his total, had he not been killed during the San Marino GP in 1994.

"You obviously want to keep these sort of records," Prost told British newspaper The Guardian. "But when I retired at the end of 1993, Ayrton Senna had 41 wins and had he lived, I think he would have quite obviously beaten my record first.

"I was convinced at the time that it was Ayrton that would threaten my record and not Michael, but either way it really doesn't matter because it was going to be beaten by a top guy."

According to Prost, Schumacher has also had easier circumstances in which to rack up his 52 wins, such as more reliable cars and fewer competitive teams.

"It could be 60, could be 70," said Prost of Schumacher's possible ultimate win tally. "One factor in his favour is that there are fewer really top teams, so he will probably hang on at Ferrari. And the cars as a whole are generally more reliable, which gives a driver the chance to finish more races."

Prost is thought to be negotiating with sources in Saudi Arabia for an injection of funds to aid his ailing team, which currently has debts of up to £10 million. Shareholder and former F1 driver Pedro Diniz is known to have offered to buy the team with his father supermarket millionaire Albilio Diniz, but Prost is reluctant to let his team be taken over.